Alright, where did this whole journey begin? Well, for me it started a while back when I finished the PDP program and swore that any schooling I took from then on would be only content of interest…
When I began looking into graduate programs to upgrade my TQS I looked high and low for a master’s degree that would meet my needs while at the same time allow me to continue teaching full-time. It quickly became apparent that I was not going to find what I was looking for… so what now?
Luckily, the LTT program re-opened. You see, I really wanted to make sure that I was going to be taking something that was more than just a pay upgrade, and instead something that I would find useful both in my career and in my private life. Technology fit that bill.
So what has my journey been looking like? Well so far its on track. I’ve been turned on to several really cool sites and programs that I have already started to use in the classroom. Unfortunately, I’ve also discovered that simply using the technology is not enough. Having a class site with resources and tutorials will sit unused if I don’t make it a part of the learning in my classroom. And that has been a bit of a hurtle for me. I’ve battled the idea of making tutorials and sending kids to view them rather than show them myself, but I’m thinking that I need to make that jump so that the students learn to pursue information on their own. So that I am their as a guide and safety net rather than the fountain of all knowledge in the room. Students need to see the site as something useful and a place to turn to first. Otherwise, it remains unused and a big waste of my time.
Now this may seem a bit negative, but not so. I’m actually very excited about what the classroom will look like. I’m a strong believer in self motivation and I think that that is what I will be teaching above event he content of the course. And I’ll be there to help those students who need more direct teaching, while those who excel will be free to work ahead at their pace. Fingers crossed, that’s the plan anyway…
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Who am I as a teacher?
Who am I as a teacher?
Who am I trying to be as a teacher?
These are two things that I think on often. Why did I become a teacher? Why am I still a teacher? Was it simply to get my summers off? Or is there something more. Do I really even enjoy teaching? And what part of teaching is it that I can look forward to every day?
This year has been a very big year for me in terms of figuring out some answers to these questions. In part I think this is because I am now teaching something that I really love to learn and share with the students… film. At the same time, I think I’m becoming more comfortable with myself and my place in the classroom.
I have, in the past, and likely still to some degree, been a different person at “work” than I am when I am not being a “teacher.” As I have said before this is because I have felt that there needs to be some distance between myself and the students so that the respect and authority is there.
I’m not sure that this is right.
Over the past few weeks, since the start of the most recent term, I’ve let more and more of my own personality creep into my teaching practice. Rather than playing the role of authority at all times, of taking a moral high ground, of being the disapproving older, more mature teacher, I’ve begun to, for lack of better words, lighten up a bit and, at least on some level, connect with the students more. If something is funny, I’ll laugh. I might follow it up by saying “that is so inappropriate,” but rather than getting mad, or rather, pretending that I’m mad – because that’s my role as a teacher, I’ll be myself. I think the students have responded well to this.
Well, now that I’ve ranted on a bit I realize that I really haven’t answered very many of the questions. I guess who I want to be as a teacher is someone who enjoys going to work everyday. That’s it. I want to wake up and look forward to spending time with my classes. How I get to that point is what I’m working at. I don’t expect that every student will love my class, nor do I pretend that I’ll even like all of my students. But what I do hope for is a classroom where I feel comfortable to be myself and where I am able to share with students, with people, what I know and what I want to learn about.
If you have any ideas on how I do this, please share them…
Who am I trying to be as a teacher?
These are two things that I think on often. Why did I become a teacher? Why am I still a teacher? Was it simply to get my summers off? Or is there something more. Do I really even enjoy teaching? And what part of teaching is it that I can look forward to every day?
This year has been a very big year for me in terms of figuring out some answers to these questions. In part I think this is because I am now teaching something that I really love to learn and share with the students… film. At the same time, I think I’m becoming more comfortable with myself and my place in the classroom.
I have, in the past, and likely still to some degree, been a different person at “work” than I am when I am not being a “teacher.” As I have said before this is because I have felt that there needs to be some distance between myself and the students so that the respect and authority is there.
I’m not sure that this is right.
Over the past few weeks, since the start of the most recent term, I’ve let more and more of my own personality creep into my teaching practice. Rather than playing the role of authority at all times, of taking a moral high ground, of being the disapproving older, more mature teacher, I’ve begun to, for lack of better words, lighten up a bit and, at least on some level, connect with the students more. If something is funny, I’ll laugh. I might follow it up by saying “that is so inappropriate,” but rather than getting mad, or rather, pretending that I’m mad – because that’s my role as a teacher, I’ll be myself. I think the students have responded well to this.
Well, now that I’ve ranted on a bit I realize that I really haven’t answered very many of the questions. I guess who I want to be as a teacher is someone who enjoys going to work everyday. That’s it. I want to wake up and look forward to spending time with my classes. How I get to that point is what I’m working at. I don’t expect that every student will love my class, nor do I pretend that I’ll even like all of my students. But what I do hope for is a classroom where I feel comfortable to be myself and where I am able to share with students, with people, what I know and what I want to learn about.
If you have any ideas on how I do this, please share them…
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